Sectional tunnel



, D. E. ROSS SECTIONAL TUNNEL Filed Feb; l26, 192:5

lnvencor Bti` able, an

Patented Sept. 1921.

[1,642,559 lUNITED-"s'rakrrzs PATENT 0-F.F1C-

:DAVID E. Boss, or LA FAYETTE, INDIANA, vAssIeNon TorUnDUn'UNIvEnsITn'oF vLA rAYE'r'rE) INnIANA,l A CORPORATION or INDIANA.

applicati-Qn mea February 26, 192s. serial No. 621,314.

This invention is a novel improvement in under round tunnels or sub-ways, part1cu .larly esigned for 'carrying steam plpes wacombined side wall and top section members.

ter pipes, electric cables or wires, andthe 5 like, which require being inspected and occasionally repaired, and its obJectisi to provide a sectional tunnel -which can-'be constructed economically, can be easily installed and most conveniently installed by excavating an open trench ofthe desired si'ze, putting the tunnel sections therein and then f illing in over the sections rather 'than drllhng a tunnel beneath the surface; although the tunnel sections are such that Athey can be easily installed. in place either in open trench construction or underground end to end constructions'.`

` Another object-,of the invention is to sof construct the sectional tunnel that the opposite side walls and top thereof can be formed of two similar opposed members which may` be cast\in longitudinal sections and readily assembled 'by simply properly positioning their bases and letting their upper endsabut, thereby `forming a tunnel wall or ledge of great strength, capable of withstanding any pressure which might be imposedthereon in the ordinary use of the surface of the' ground under which thetu'nnel extends. These tun- 3o nel sections are such-'that they may be formed with cheap labor, at or near the 'place Where .they are to be used, or at places quite remote therefrom, where the material for forming them ma be cheaper, or more readily obtainthen transported to the point vof use. i A further object of the invention is to provide a tunnel whose base may be formed of concrete -laid within the trenchor' cast in 40 slabs and placed in an excavation at any desired depth,1the side and roof wall members then being readily placed upon the base, and the earth illed in over the exterior.

Othe minor objects andv advantages of the invent-i n willbe hereinafter vreferred to.

In' e .accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical Aform of the tunnel embodying the invention, and will explain the same with reference to the said dra and summarize in the claims the essentials of the invention `the novel features of construction and combination of parts for which protection isdesired. ,t

In said drawings:

Fig. ll is a transverse section through'the complete tunnel embodying the inventlon.

Fig. 2 1s an insideface vview of one of the of the tuimel. A As shown in Fig; I, the tunnel comprises a base 1, whlch is preferably made of poured concrete, and is preferably continuous, but

may be, if desired, laidv in pre-formed sections of concrete. Preferably, after the tunnel 1s excavated tothe proper depth, either by the open trench method, or by the boring method,- the base 1- is laid by pouring con- .Crete into suitable molds of sufficient depth to afford a firm support and anchorage for the side and` roofwall members.` -The base should bethicke'ned at its outer edges where the side walls are mounted upon the base, so as to withstand the wear and'pressure exerted thereon by the superimposed portions of the tunnel structure. As shown, the ends of the base 1 are grooved as at 1a to form seats or shoulders for the lower edges of the opposite side and root wall members, 2. The members 2 are also preferably formed Yof concretel for theV purpose of economy.

The contourof each' section-2 is'approximately one half` oa-parabola, or may be.

formed elliptical or otherwise to get additional head room. The lower portion rests upon the base 1 and extends upwardly sub-v t mounted on opposite sides of the base 1 (as shown in Fig. '1) the upper edges of these sections will meet on the vertical median line or axisof the tunnel, at the topthereof, the two sections preferablyA forming togethera complete arch, which may be eitherparabolic,el1iptcal", or' conform to other mathe- Vmatical curves, thev parabolic form making the strongest archsection.l The sections-2 are preferably composed of outer continuous sheet like ortions 2, "braced by inwardly projectingseries' of horizontally disposed reinforcing ribs 2", and vertically disposed ribs 2c.Y These ribs 2 and 2c intersect, as shown,

so that the interior surfaces of the side and roof wall members 2 present a cellular aplpearanoe, and the ribs impart the desired-. Y

ducing the weight thereof. ln order to give street carrying heavy vehicular trafiic, the` wall members 2 may be reinforced by steel rods imbedded in the body thereof in the usual manner, and further by imbedding expanded sheet metal in the web or body thereof in the usual manner.

Preferably each end of the wall sections terminates in a vertical rib 2, asL shown in Fig. 2, to give strength to the abutting ends nt adjacent sections; But at one end of -each section is also provideda flange 2k as shown in Fig. 2, siinilarito the flange of ordinary .sewer pipe adapted to receive the plain end ot the adjacent wall sectionffor the purpose ot packing in the usual manner. These flanges 2k are preferably formed integral with the sections, as shown.

The lower ends of the sections are fitted in the shoulders la of the base, and the upper ends of the opposed sections 2 preferably abut against opposite sides of the interposed beam 3, preferably an I-beam, whose upper flanges engage respectively the abutting outer edges of the sections 2, and the lower flanges thereof fit up against the inner edges of the upper section 2, asindicated in the drawings. The width between the flanges is preferably equal to the over-all thickness of the members 2. The beam serves to give true bearing for each section 2, to keep the concrete wall sections intrue lineal' alignment along the run of the tunnel, and to prevent the edges of the sections chafing or rupturing each other vby exerting unequal pressure thereagainst. From the` beam 3 may be suspended by suitable hangers 4 a rod or track of any suitable kind, which may be used as a trolley track, or as a means 1 for suspending blocking tackle, or by which pipes may be handled 1n the tunnel.

lf desired, Vthe inner faces of the members `2 may be covered by a lining of metallath and plaster or any other suitable lining, as indicated in dotted lines at 6, Fig. ,1, so that the cells or pockets'. formed by the intersecting ribs 2b and 2c may become closed air spaces, for heat insulatingv purposes. Ex,

cept in verycold climates it would not be necessary to thus line the tunnel.

The upper surface of the base 1 may be concave as indicated in Fig. 1, so that any moisture will drain to the center of the base, and may be discharged through a suitable drain (not shown), provided inthe base in the usual manner. l

As stated-where the nature pf the ground permits, Iv prefer to make the tunnel by merely digging' a ditch, formingthe base 1 therein, then lowering the opposite'sections 2 into the shoulders 1a :formed in the base 1, tilting them over until their tops abut against the interposed I-beam 3, and then narrates filling in the trench exterior to the sectionsy The joints between the adjacent sections 2 will abut, but may be closed by any suitable means in any well known manner. If desiredlfthe opposed side sections 2 may bel placed so that. the sections on one side will stagger with the sections on the .opposite side, but I do not`consider this material. The construction shown ali'ords a very cheap method and means for forming-tunnels, as the sections 2 can be cast in any desired size and placed bodily 4in position when duplicates, one mold will answer' for each and all the sections required in thestraight run yofthe tunnel.

What I claim is:

`sufficiently set, and as the sections 2 are all 1. A tunnel of the character speciied,.

`coni risin(1r a base o osite re-f'ormed combined side-Wall-and-,top sections semi-parabolic in shape, having their lower ends seated on the opposite sides of the base and their upper ends abutting above Athe base,the

opposed sections together forming a para-- `their inner faces said ribs intersecting; and

bars inter osed between ,the abutting upper edges of t e opposed sections, 'substantially as described.

3. A tunnel ofthe character specified comrising a base formed of concrete and having ongitudinalshoulders at its sides for engagement with `the side sections of the tunnel; opposite, pre-formed combined sidewall-and-top sections semi-parabolic shape', having their lower edfres seated in the shoulders of the base, and their upper edges abutting together at the median line of th nnel'above the ba" the opposed sectio W arabola, and

together forming Ia longitudinally disposed bar'nterposed'between the upper abutting faces of opposite sections and aligning said sections.

4. A tunnel of the character specified comprising a base formed of concrete and-having longitudinal shoulders at its sides for engagement with the side sections of the tun-y nel; opposite pre-formed cmbined side-Walland-top sectlons semi-parabolic in shape, having their lower edges seated in the shoulderso the base, and their -u per edges abutting together at the median ine of the tunnel above the base, the opposed sections together forming a parabola; the sections being provided with series of parallel 1onginterposed between the abutting upper edges of the opposed sections 5. For a tunnel of the character specified, a reinforced ,pre-formed combined side-walland-top sectionl semi-parabolic in shape and a longitudinally disposed bar interposed between the upper abutting faces of opposite sections, substantially as specilied.

6. For a tunnel of the character specified, 15

a reinforced pre-formed combined side-walland-top section semi-parabolic in shape, the section being provided with a series of par allel longitudinal ribs and a series of vertically disposed parallel ribs on its inner face, said ribs intersecting and a longitudinally disposedibar interposed between the upper abutting faces of opposite sections, substantially yas specified.

In testimony that I clailn theforegong 25 as my own, I affix my signature.

DAVID E. ROSS. 

